Vertically adjustable carton cutting machine



March 15, 1966 KRAMUCH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 1 HIII 1N VEN TORS CARL H. MAYER, JR. 0 NHLTON. R. KRAMUCHM I EDWARD I. KNORPJN 4 March 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June5, 1963 INVENTORS CARL H. MAYER, MILTON R. KRAMLKZH EDWARD 1. KNORPJNGBY VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJune 5, 1963 G. -HN 3% WWW 7 5 AN mmmK m 1 4 N A 6 @WWM A\D CME 9 WW B a/4 5 March 15, 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 4 FVT 72 g 2 QJJJ 70 WW g g/ 46 g 3 /44 66 g g f j 6 2;?"/L 2 L 9 56 O A 1 50 62 \w CARL H.MAYERIN3%:ITORS MHJON R. KRAMLKIHEDWARD I. KNORFUNG March 1966 M. R. KRAMLICH ETAL 3,239,932

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CARTON CUTTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June5, 1963 6 RHm 5 mRww W H v AN W WWH H L WW Ruw A\D cmaw United StatesPatent Illinois Filed June 5, 1963, Ser. No. 285,732 5 Claims. (6130-2)This invention relates generally to devices for automatically openingmerchandise-filled cartons and simultaneously forming one or a pair oftrays from said cartons. More particularly, the invention relates toimprovements in tray pack cutters of the type disclosed in theco-pending applications of Ray E. Clark and William N. Garwick, entitledTray Pack Processing Cutter, Serial No. 47,671, filed August 5, 1960 andnow abandoned; Traver J. Smith and Ralph K. Daugherty, entitled TrayPack Cutter, Serial No. 129,928, filed June 23, 1961 and issued on June2, 1964 as Letters Patent No. 3,135,048; and Ralph K. Daugherty, TraverJ. Smith and Stanley J. Kozuch, entitled Improved Cutter Guard andPiercing Means for Tray Pack Cutter, Serial No. 187,722, filed April 16,1962 and issued on June 2, 1964 as Letters Patent No. 3,138,049, allassigned to an assignee in common with the subject application.

There was disclosed in the said co-pending applications a novelapparatus for readily and efficiently opening and cuttingmerchandise-filled cartons of the type found in great quantities insupermarkets, grocery stores, department stores and the like. Theapparatus thus filled a long felt need by performing a job mechanicallywhich therefore was being manually and inefficiently done.Simultaneously, the apparatus automatically produced one or a pair oftrays from the top and/or bottom of the carton. The trays could then beimmediately and conveniently employed for handling, marking, stacking ordisplaying in bulk the cans or other containers of goods which had beenpackaged in the carton. The numerous advantages aiforded by the traypack cutter apparatus were great and obvious.

Quite briefly, the tray pack cutters comprised a horizontal table orconveyor having a vertical framework associated with one edge thereof.Mounted in the framework were a pair of horizontal rotary cutter bladeswhich extended slightly over the edge of the table. The cutter bladescould be adjusted vertically to suit a particular carton and providetrays of a particular depth. A cutter guard and piercing member wasassociated with each of the cutter blades and motor means was providedfor driving the blades. In operation, it was simply necessary to move aproperly positioned carton along the table toward the framework. Thepiercing members entered the carton wall and then cooperated with theblades so that the latter efficienly cut said wall as the cartoncontinued its motion. After a wall was completely cut, the carton couldbe rotated and the operation repeated four times or until all of thevertical walls were cut and the formed.

As already indicated, the tray pack cutters of the copendingapplications answered a long felt need and have been well accepted.However, as expected with any new machine, continued use of the traypack cutters under diverse operating conditions has disclosed certainlimitations and disadvantageous features. Thus, for example,

detachable trays 'the accumulations of dust resulting from the cuttingof the pulp product material cartons by the rotary blades could undercertain conditions become noxious or hazardous. Similarly, it wasdiscovered that the floating action of the vertical framework asdisclosed in the co-pending' improved tray pack cutter application,Serial No. 129,928 which has matured into Patent No. 3,135,048, did notinsure an accurate and efficient cut of the carton walls in every case.Other shortcomings were discovered in the carton top guide structure andthe means for vertically adjusting and retaining the same.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a traypack cutter of the character described having improvements andrefinements which overcome all of the shortcomings and disadvantageousfeatures described hereinabove.

Another object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described having means for automatically gathering andcollecting the dust and other debris which invariably results from thecutting of pulp product material cartons.

A further object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described in which the vertical framework is secured to thehorizontal table in fixed and immovable relationship. A related objectis to provide such a tray pack cutter in which an accurate and efiicientcut of each vertical carton wall is automatically assured.

Still another object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described having means for readily adjusting the height of thecarton top guide to -accommo date any sized carton and for eflicientlyand automatically retaining said guide in any adjusted position.

Yet another object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described having means for simultaneously adjusting thevertical spacing of the upper and lower cutter blades so that two traysof identical dimension will automatically be cut from a carton.

Still a further object is to afford an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described having automatically operable indicator means forgiving a direct reading of the depth of the trays to be cut from acarton. The cutter blades thus may be quickly and readily adjusted toprovide trays of any desired depth.

Yet a further object is to provide an improved tray pack cutter of thecharacter described which is simple to operate and yet is most efiicientand durable for the purposes intended.

F or the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, wehave illustrated in the accompanying draw- Fbe readily understood andappreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an embodying theprinciples of the inventions with portions being broken away toillustrate certain details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the framework sidepanels removed and portions broken away for convenience of illustration;

BIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 inFIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 4 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 44 FIG. 1 and viewedin the direction indicated; 'FIG. 5 is a similar view taken on the planeof line 5-5 FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction indicated; FIG. 6 is asimilar view taken on the plane of line 66 in FIG. 1 and viewed in thedirection indicated;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail perspective view further illustrating theassociation of parts in the carton top guide and upper cutterassemblies;

FIG. '8 is a fragmentary detail perspective view taken on the plane ofline 88 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction indicated;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded View showing the cooperating parts of thedust and debris collecting means; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the relationship of theblower and framework.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings, the referencenumeral 10 indicates generally an improved tray pack cutter embodyingthe principles of the invention. The tray pack cutter 10 comprises ahorizontal platform or table 412 and a plurality of conveyor rollerssuch as 14 may be rotatably mounted thereon for facilitating themovement of cartons thereover. A pair of vertical guide panels 16 and 18is secured to one edge of the table 12 to aid in properly positioning acarton for the cutting operation as will subsequently be more fullydescribed.

Rigidly secured to the same edge of the table 12 is a vertical frameworkpositioned between the guide plates 16 and 18, and indicated generallyby the numeral 20. The framework 20 may include a back plate 22, anupper cross member 24, a top cover 25, a pair of side panels 26, 26, anda bottom motor mount housing 28. A pair of spaced guide rods 30, ismounted in the framework 20 adjacent the front thereof, and a hexagonaladjusting shaft 32 is rotatably journalled rearwardly in said framework.A hexagonal drive shift 34 is likewise rotatably journalled forwardly inthe framework 20, said drive shaft being connected to a suitable motor Mwhich is mounted in the motor housing 28.

Slida'bly mounted on the guide rods 30 is an upper cutter assembly 36and a lower cutter assembly 38. Since the cutter assemblies are ofsubstantially identical construction, the description thereof will belimited to only the upper assembly 36, with corresponding parts on thelower assembly bearing the same identifying numerals but with the sufiixa added. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, it will be seenthat the cutter assembly 36 comprises a mounting block 40 having a pairof holes, 42, 42 formed therein for slideably accommodating the guiderods 30 therethrough. integrally formed at the rear of the mountingblock 40 is an internally threaded collar 44. The collar 44 is adaptedto cooperate with an externally threaded elongated sleeve 46 which isnonrotatably mounted on the adjusting shaft 32.

The cooperating pairs of collars and sleeves, 44-46 and 46a-46arespectively, are identical in structure and function except that thethreadings in each pair are reversed. It may thus be appreciated thatwhen the adjusting shaft 32 is rotated, the cutter assemblies 36 and 38are caused to simultaneously move in opposite directions, viz, eithertoward each other or away from each other. A bracket such as 48 isprovided for preventing all vertical movement of the sleeve 46a, whereasa channel-shaped bracket 50 is provided for preventing inadvertentvertical movement of the sleeve 46, but permitting a selective verticalmovement thereof in a manner which will subsequently be described.

A rotary cutter blade 52 is suitably journalled on the block 40 forrotation by the drive shaft 34. Completing the cutter mount assembly 36is a cutter guard and piercing member 54 which is attached to the block40. The member 54 comprises a vertical plate 56 having a slot 58 formedtherein for accommodating a portion of the blade 52 therethrough.Integrally formed with, or otherwise secured to, the plate 56 by meansof a thin web 60 is a spear-like member 62 having a relatively sharppoint 64. It should be noted that the spear-like member 62 is providedwith an arcuate channel-shaped groove 66 which accommodates and sheathesthe outwardly projecting teeth portions of the blade 52 (see FIGS. 4 and6). As described in the aforementioned co-pending application, SerialNo. 187,722, which has matured into Patent No. 3,138,049, the member 54cooperates with the rotary cutter blade '52 to insure an efficient andeven cut through the walls of a carton while at the same time insuringagainst any damage to the contents of the carton. In this respect, it isimportant to note that the vertical plates 56 and 56a are in exactvertical alignment with the edge of the table 12 and in exact horizontalalignment with the guide plates 16 and 18 so that accurate positioningof the carton before the actual cutting thereof is assured in everycase. The members 54 and 54a may likewise include safety cover platessuch as 68 and 68a respectively for protecting the hands of the operatorfrom the rotating cutter blades.

Associated with the upper cutter assembly 36 is a carton top guideassembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. The assembly70 comprises a web 72 provided with openings for slidably accommodatingthe guide rods 30, 30 and shafts 32 and 34 therethrough (see FIG. 3).The web 72 is connected to the upper cutter assembly 36 by means of thechannel-shaped bracket 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 6), so that these twoassemblies are adapted to slide vertically on the rods 30 as a singleunit.

Connected to the web 72 is a carton top guide member 74 and means forreleasably retaining this member in any selected vertical position. Thesaid means comprises an upper stationary handle 76 and a cooperatingmovable handle 78 pivotally mounted on the web 72. A lock lever 8-0 isconnected to either end of the movable handle 78, and a lock plate 82 issecured to the free end of each of said lock levers. As indicated inFIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, each of the lock plates 82 is providedwith a generally arcuate camming edge 84 which is adapted to bearagainst the associated guide rod 30. A pair of leaf springs 86 isprovided for normally urging the movable handle 78 downwardly and thelock plates 82 into camming or locking engagement with the rods 30.

When it is desired to adjust the position of the top guide assembly 70,it is simply necessary to squeeze together the handles 76 and 78 so thatthe latter moves upwardly against the action of the springs 86, asindicated in dotted outline in FIG. 5. With the camming action of thelock plates 82 released, the entire assembly 70 may now be adjusted tothe desired height so that the carton top guide member 74 will nicelyaccommodate the particular carton in question thereunder. When thisposition is achieved, it is simply necessary to release the handle 78whereupon the entire assembly is automatically and securely locked inplace. To facilitate the sliding vertical motion of the top guideassembly 70 and upper cutter assembly 36, these members may be mountedon the rods 30 by means of a pair of bushings 88, 88.

Since vertical adjustment of the top guide assembly 70 causes the uppercutter assembly 36 to move therewith as a unit, the relative position ofthe carton top guide member 74 and cutter blade 52 does not changeduring such adjustment. It will thus be appreciated that the depth ofthe two carton trays simultaneously cut at any given instant by thecutter blades 52 and 52a is always the same. However, the depth of thecarton trays cut may of course be varied as desired by means of theadjusting shaft 32, sleeves 46 and 46a and collars 44 and 44a, asalready described above.

For purposes of adjusting the tray depth cut, the adjusting shaft 32 isprovided at the top thereof with a bevel gear 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).Cooperating with the bevel gear 90 is a second bevel gear 92 mounted onan indicator screw 94 which carries a handle 96 on the free end thereof.An indicator 98 is threadedly mounted on the screw 94 and is adapted tomove horizontally thereon as said screw is rotated. Practical units ofmeasurements, such as inches, may be calibrated as at 100 on the topcover 25 of the framework 20, so that the depth of tray cut may beaccurately set and known at all times.

If desired, the handle 96 may be positioned above the top cover 25, oron an extension of the adjusting shaft 32. In such case, the bevelledgears 90 and 92 and the screw 94 will of course be eliminated.Similarly, the extension of the adjusting shaft 32 may comprise thescrew 94 so that the indicator 98 would be mounted thereon for motion ina vertical direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, the novel means forcollecting the dust and debris invariably resulting from the cutting ofpulp product cartons will now be described. The motor mount housing 28is provided with an intake opening 102 which communicates with ascroll-type discharge opening 104. An exhaust duct 106 is connected tothe housing 28 in communication with the discharge opening 104, and asuitable dust bag such as 108 may be removably connected to said duct.An impeller disc 110 is rigidly mounted on the drive shaft 34 directlybeneath the intake opening 102, and said disc is provided with aplurality of upstanding impeller blades such as 112.

When the device is operated, the resulting dust and debris has a naturaltendency to fall generally straight downwardly by virtue of the force ofgravity exerted thereon. Rotation of the impeller blades 112, however,creates a substantial negative pressure at the intake opening 102. As aresult, falling dust and debris is efficiently sucked into said intakeopening and thence discharged into the dust bag 108. A filled dust bagmay of course then be emptied or discarded and replaced by a new one. Inany event, the collection of the frequency hazardous and noxious dust isefiiciently and automatically achieved. To prevent the dust fromcontacting the motor M, a sectioning plate 114 may like-wise bepositioned in the motor housing 28.

To insure even more efiicient collection of the dust and debris, thedevice may include a small blower such as 116. The blower 116 may be ofthe squirrel cage type having a scroll 118 which is attached to the backplate 22 of the vertical framework (see FIGS. 2 and 10). The back plate22 is provided with a slot 120 which communicates with the scroll 118.It is important to note that the slot 120 is inclined downwardly in thegeneral direction of the impeller structure. It will thus be appreciatedthat operation of the blower 116 causes a stream of air to be directedtoward the bottom of the framework and toward the impeller structure. Asa result, an even greater negative pressure is produced at the intakeopening 102, thereby further insuring efficient collection of the dustand debris.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it should be apparentwithout further description that We have provided an improved tray packcutter having numerous novel refinements and improvements. The cuttersimultaneously forms two trays from a carton, and the depth of saidtrays may be simply and readily adjusted as desired. The carton topguide likewise may be simply and readily adjusted to accommodate anycarton height, and efiicient means are provided for automaticallyretaining said guide in any adjusted position. In addition, the problemof dust and debris disposal has been overcome by the novel impellerexhaust system which operates most efiiciently from the single driveshaft.

It is believed that our invention, its mode of construction andassembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood fromthe foregoing without further description, and it should be manifestthat While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview ofour invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

We claim:

1. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; avertical framework, a vertically adjustable cutter blade assemblymounted within said framework, a power source driving said cutterassembly and a carton guide assembly, said carton guide assemblycomprising:

a carton top guide associated with said cutter blade assembly foraccommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder; and

locking means associated with said carton top guide for automaticallyand releasably locking the same in any selected vertical position alongsaid vertical framework, the releasing of said locking means permits thevertical movement of said carton guide assembly for adjusting saidcarton guide top said vertical movement of said carton guide assemblycorrespondingly moves said cutter assembly vertically, for maintainingthereby an equal distance between said cutter blade assembly and the topof any of said cartons.

2. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; avertical framework, a pair of spaced vertically extending guide rodsrigidly attached within said framework, a vertically adjustable cutterblade assembly mounted within said vertical framework, a power sourcedriving said cutter assembly and a carton guide assembly slidablyassociated with said guide rods, said carton guide assembly comprising:

a carton top guide rigidly associated with said cutter blade assemblyfor accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder;

a movable handle pivotally associated with said carton top guide;

a pair of lever plates pivotally connected to the ends of said movablehandle;

a camming edge included at the free end of said lever plates; and

spring means bearing against said movable handle to normally urge saidmovable handle downward and to corresponding cause said camming edge ofsaid lever plates into a locking engagement with said guide rods, forsecuring said carton top guide at a selected vertical position, theraising of said movable handle releases said locking engagement of saidcamming edge to permit the slidable vertical movement of said cartonguide assembly along said guide rods, for vertically adjusting saidcarton top guide, said vertical movement of said carton guide assemblycorrespondingly moves said cutter blade assembly vertically, formaintaining thereby an equal distance between said cutter blade assemblyand the top of said cartons.

3. In a tray pack cutter for cutting trays from cartons and including; avertical framework, a pair of spaced vertically extending guide rodsrigidly attached within said framework, a vertically adjustable cutterblade assembly mounted within said vertical framework, a power sourcedriving said cutter assembly and a carton guide assembly slidablyassociated with said guide rods, said guide as sembly comprising:

a carton top guide rigidly associated with said cutter blade assemblyfor accommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder;

a stationary handle rigidly associated with said carton top guide;

a movable handle pivotally connected to said stationary handle;

a pair of lock levers pivotally connected to the ends of said movablehandle;

a lock plate rigidly attached to the free end of each of said locklevers, each of said lock plates including a substantially arcuatecamming edge; and

a leaf spring associated with said carton top guide and bearing againstsaid movable handle, said leaf spring normally urging said movablehandle downward to correspondingly cause said camming edges of said lockplates into a locking engagement with said guide rods, for securingthereby said carton top guide at a selected vertical position, theraising of said movable handle toward said stationary handlecorrespondingly releases said locking engagement of said camming edge topermit the slidable vertical movement of said carton guide assemblyalong said guide rods, for adjusting said carton top guide, saidvertical movement of said carton guide assembly correspondingly movessaid cutter blade assembly ver tically, for maintaining thereby an equaldistance between said cutter blade assembly and the top of any of saidcartons.

4. A carton cutting machine comprising:

a horizontal table;

a vertical framework associated With one edge of said table;

an upper rotary cutter blade and a lower rotary cutter blade, saidcutter blades being vertically spaced apart and mounted in saidframework so that portions thereof project over said table;

means for adjusting the vertical position of said blades;

a carton top guide associated with said upper cutter blade andaccommodating cartons of various sizes thereunder; and

locking means associated with said carton top guide for automaticallyand releasably locking the same in selected vertical positions alongsaid vertical framework, the releasing of said locking means permits thevertical movement of said carton top guide for adjusting the position ofthe same, said vertical movement of said carton top guidecorrespondingly moves said upper cutter blade vertically for maintainingthereby an equal distance between said upper cutter blade and the top ofany of said cartons.

5. A carton cutting machine comprising:

a horizontal table;

a vertical framework associated with one edge of said table;

a pair of vertically spaced rotary cutter blades mounted in saidframework so that portions thereof project over said table;

means for adjusting the vertical positioning of said cutter blades, saidmeans adapted to simultaneously adjust said cutter blades in oppositedirections;

a pair of vertical guide rods positioned in said framework;

a carton top guide slidably mounted on said guide rods and beingvertically adjustable to accommodate cartons of varying heightsthereunder;

a stationary handle connected to said carton top guide;

a movable handle pivotally associated with said stationary handle;

a pair of pivotally mounted lock levers connected to the ends of saidmovable handle;

a lock plate secured to the free end of each of said lock levers;

a camming edge included in each of said lock plates;

spring means bearing against said movable handle and normally urgingsaid camming edges of said lock plates into locking engagement with saidguide rods, the movement of said movable handle toward said stationaryhandle releases said locking engagement to permit the verticaladjustment of said carton top guide along said guide rods;

a motor and connected drive shaft associated with said cutter blades foroperating the same; and

means operable by said drive shaft for automatically collecting dust anddebris resulting from the operation of said cutter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,426,676 8/1922Rudich 143-37 X 1,643,557 9/1927 Goldman 269- 1,898,910 2/1933 Stein30-2 1,990,991 2/ 1935 Heubach 30-124 X 2,149,142 2/1939 Jorgenson269-242 2,256,630 9/ 1941 Shield 30-2 2,537,505 1/1951 Baran 30-22,612,805 10/1952 Heinrich 269-167 2,729,885 1/1956 Wahl 30-2 3,103,0699/1963 Gary 30-133 X 3,135,048 6/1964 Daughtery et al 30-2 FOREIGNPATENTS 3,521 2/ 1896 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner.

1. IN A TRAY PACK CUTTER FOR CUTTING TRAYS FROM CARTONS AND INCLUDING; AVERTICAL FRAMEWORK, A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CUTTER BLADE ASSEMBLYMOUNTED WITHIN SAID FRAMEWORK, A POWER SOURCE DRIVING SAID CUTTERASSEMBLY AND A CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLY, SAID CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING: A CARTON TOP GUIDE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CUTTER BLADEASSEMBLY FOR ACCOMMODATING CARTONS OF VARIOUS SIZES THEREUNDER; ANDLOCKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CARTON TOP GUIDE FOR AUTOMATICALLYAND RELEASABLY LOCKING THE SAME IN ANY SELECTED VERTICAL POSITION ALONGSAID VERTICAL FRAMEWORK, THE RELEASING OF SAID LOCKING MEANS PERMITS THEVERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CARTON GUIDE ASSEMBLY